– Chronic steroid use to treat the symptoms of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) can contribute to slowed growth and delayed puberty[2],[3]
– The new pivotal Phase III data also showed SJIA patients treated with ACZ885 were nearly three times less likely to suffer a new flare vs. placebo[1]
– ACZ885 regulatory submissions on track for 2012 in SJIA, a rare, disabling and potentially fatal auto-inflammatory disease, with spiking fever and arthritic pain[2],[4]
EAST HANOVER, NJ, USA I November 7, 2011 I Novartis announced today new pivotal Phase III data showing 45% of children with active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) were able to substantially reduce their use of oral corticosteroids (often described as steroids) within 28 weeks of commencing treatment with ACZ885 (canakinumab) (p<0.0001)[1].
The results of the study, which met both primary endpoints, will be presented on November 9th at the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, US[1].
"The treatment of SJIA is a challenge given our current treatment options. Despite our best efforts, optimal disease control is often times elusive. We still must use steroids in the treatment of these children with SJIA. Steroids help manage many SJIA symptoms, such as fever and inflammation, but doctors try to minimize their use because of the potential negative impact on bones and growth," said Daniel Lovell, M.D., one of the study investigators and Professor of Pediatrics at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. "These data are exciting because they show that patients on ACZ885 were able to reduce their steroid use, and also experienced excellent disease control."
In addition, patients with SJIA on ACZ885 were nearly three times (0.37 hazard ratio) less likely to suffer a new flare. Therefore, only 27% of ACZ885-treated patients experienced a new flare, vs. 75% of patients on placebo during the study (p=0.0043)[1].
Data from this trial supports the safety and efficacy profile of ACZ885 in the study population. These results, along with data from a second pivotal study, are planned to form the basis for worldwide regulatory submissions in 2012. Side effects observed in this study were similar to those already seen for ACZ885’s approved indication, including infections and neutropenia[1]. In addition, cases of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) were reported in this study[1].
"These data demonstrate the significant benefits that ACZ885 may provide this young population, both in steroid reduction and in extending the period these children can live free from SJIA flares," said David Epstein, Head of the Pharmaceuticals Division of Novartis. "Novartis is committed to helping improve the health of patients with SJIA and other inflammatory diseases, which is why we are delighted to be sharing these results."
ACZ885 is an investigational fully human monoclonal antibody which neutralizes the key inflammatory mediator, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), which plays an important role in a number of diseases including SJIA[5].
The incidence of SJIA is estimated to be less than 1 in 100,000 children[6]. It is called ‘systemic’ because the inflammation affects the whole body, as well as most of the joints[4]. The condition is characterized by potentially life-long, recurrent and painful arthritis flares, skin rashes and daily spiking fevers[2],[4].
Novartis is also presenting a number of other studies at ACR, including a second pivotal Phase III trial of ACZ885 in SJIA, which was previously presented at the 2011 European Pediatric Rheumatology Congress in Bruges, Belgium, in September.
About the Study
The Phase III, two-part study had an open-label, single-arm active treatment in Part I followed by a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, event-driven withdrawal design in Part II[1]. A total of 177 patients between the ages of 1 and 19 years with active SJIA were enrolled in the study[1]. In Part I, patients received a subcutaneous (s.c.) dose of ACZ885 (4 mg/kg, up to 300 mg) every 4 weeks. After 8 weeks, patients who met the adapted ACR Pediatric 30 criteria began tapering (reducing) their steroid use until either: a) the dose had been decreased to less than or equal to 0.5 mg/kg[7] while maintaining the adapted ACR Pediatric 30 Criteria (successful tapering of steroids); or b) a maximum of 20 weeks passed without reaching this goal (unsuccessful tapering of steroids)[1]. In Part II of the study, patients were randomized to either continue receiving ACZ885, or to receive placebo every 4 weeks, until a pre-specified number (37) of flare-events ("flares") had occurred[1].
The primary endpoints were to: a) assess if ACZ885 allows tapering of steroids in at least 25% of SJIA patients (Part I); and b) demonstrate that time to next flare is extended with ACZ885 vs. placebo (Part II)[1].
In Part I of the study (representing 58 patient years), 138 of 177 patients (78%) reported an adverse event (AE), with the most common being nasopharyngitis, headache and cough. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in 15 patients, with the most common being infections, MAS (four cases) or flare-associated events[1]. Five SAEs led to discontinuation, and one patient died of MAS[1]. During Part II, AEs (the most common being arthralgia, cough, nasopharyngitis and pyrexia) were reported by 40 of 50 (80%) ACZ885-treated patients (vs. 35 of 50 [70%] placebo patients previously treated with ACZ885)[1]; and six patients in each arm experienced one or more SAE, which mainly included infections, MAS and flare-associated events[1]. Six patients, all in the placebo arm, discontinued the study due to AEs or SAEs during Part II[1]. One patient died from MAS after study discontinuation in the placebo group.
MAS is a potentially fatal condition known to be associated with SJIA and is characterized by liver abnormalities, bleeding disorders, central nervous system dysfunction and multiple organ failure[4]. Approximately 10% of SJIA patients are diagnosed with MAS, some of whom suffer repeated episodes[4].
About ACZ885
ACZ885 is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits IL-1 beta, which is an important part of the body’s immune system defenses. Excessive production of IL-1 beta plays a major role in certain inflammatory diseases, including SJIA[5]. ACZ885 works by neutralizing IL-1 beta for a sustained period of time, therefore inhibiting inflammation.
ACZ885 is currently approved in the US and other countries for a different disease state.
SOURCE: Novartis
Post Views: 28
– Chronic steroid use to treat the symptoms of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) can contribute to slowed growth and delayed puberty[2],[3]
– The new pivotal Phase III data also showed SJIA patients treated with ACZ885 were nearly three times less likely to suffer a new flare vs. placebo[1]
– ACZ885 regulatory submissions on track for 2012 in SJIA, a rare, disabling and potentially fatal auto-inflammatory disease, with spiking fever and arthritic pain[2],[4]
EAST HANOVER, NJ, USA I November 7, 2011 I Novartis announced today new pivotal Phase III data showing 45% of children with active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) were able to substantially reduce their use of oral corticosteroids (often described as steroids) within 28 weeks of commencing treatment with ACZ885 (canakinumab) (p<0.0001)[1].
The results of the study, which met both primary endpoints, will be presented on November 9th at the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, US[1].
"The treatment of SJIA is a challenge given our current treatment options. Despite our best efforts, optimal disease control is often times elusive. We still must use steroids in the treatment of these children with SJIA. Steroids help manage many SJIA symptoms, such as fever and inflammation, but doctors try to minimize their use because of the potential negative impact on bones and growth," said Daniel Lovell, M.D., one of the study investigators and Professor of Pediatrics at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. "These data are exciting because they show that patients on ACZ885 were able to reduce their steroid use, and also experienced excellent disease control."
In addition, patients with SJIA on ACZ885 were nearly three times (0.37 hazard ratio) less likely to suffer a new flare. Therefore, only 27% of ACZ885-treated patients experienced a new flare, vs. 75% of patients on placebo during the study (p=0.0043)[1].
Data from this trial supports the safety and efficacy profile of ACZ885 in the study population. These results, along with data from a second pivotal study, are planned to form the basis for worldwide regulatory submissions in 2012. Side effects observed in this study were similar to those already seen for ACZ885’s approved indication, including infections and neutropenia[1]. In addition, cases of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) were reported in this study[1].
"These data demonstrate the significant benefits that ACZ885 may provide this young population, both in steroid reduction and in extending the period these children can live free from SJIA flares," said David Epstein, Head of the Pharmaceuticals Division of Novartis. "Novartis is committed to helping improve the health of patients with SJIA and other inflammatory diseases, which is why we are delighted to be sharing these results."
ACZ885 is an investigational fully human monoclonal antibody which neutralizes the key inflammatory mediator, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), which plays an important role in a number of diseases including SJIA[5].
The incidence of SJIA is estimated to be less than 1 in 100,000 children[6]. It is called ‘systemic’ because the inflammation affects the whole body, as well as most of the joints[4]. The condition is characterized by potentially life-long, recurrent and painful arthritis flares, skin rashes and daily spiking fevers[2],[4].
Novartis is also presenting a number of other studies at ACR, including a second pivotal Phase III trial of ACZ885 in SJIA, which was previously presented at the 2011 European Pediatric Rheumatology Congress in Bruges, Belgium, in September.
About the Study
The Phase III, two-part study had an open-label, single-arm active treatment in Part I followed by a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, event-driven withdrawal design in Part II[1]. A total of 177 patients between the ages of 1 and 19 years with active SJIA were enrolled in the study[1]. In Part I, patients received a subcutaneous (s.c.) dose of ACZ885 (4 mg/kg, up to 300 mg) every 4 weeks. After 8 weeks, patients who met the adapted ACR Pediatric 30 criteria began tapering (reducing) their steroid use until either: a) the dose had been decreased to less than or equal to 0.5 mg/kg[7] while maintaining the adapted ACR Pediatric 30 Criteria (successful tapering of steroids); or b) a maximum of 20 weeks passed without reaching this goal (unsuccessful tapering of steroids)[1]. In Part II of the study, patients were randomized to either continue receiving ACZ885, or to receive placebo every 4 weeks, until a pre-specified number (37) of flare-events ("flares") had occurred[1].
The primary endpoints were to: a) assess if ACZ885 allows tapering of steroids in at least 25% of SJIA patients (Part I); and b) demonstrate that time to next flare is extended with ACZ885 vs. placebo (Part II)[1].
In Part I of the study (representing 58 patient years), 138 of 177 patients (78%) reported an adverse event (AE), with the most common being nasopharyngitis, headache and cough. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in 15 patients, with the most common being infections, MAS (four cases) or flare-associated events[1]. Five SAEs led to discontinuation, and one patient died of MAS[1]. During Part II, AEs (the most common being arthralgia, cough, nasopharyngitis and pyrexia) were reported by 40 of 50 (80%) ACZ885-treated patients (vs. 35 of 50 [70%] placebo patients previously treated with ACZ885)[1]; and six patients in each arm experienced one or more SAE, which mainly included infections, MAS and flare-associated events[1]. Six patients, all in the placebo arm, discontinued the study due to AEs or SAEs during Part II[1]. One patient died from MAS after study discontinuation in the placebo group.
MAS is a potentially fatal condition known to be associated with SJIA and is characterized by liver abnormalities, bleeding disorders, central nervous system dysfunction and multiple organ failure[4]. Approximately 10% of SJIA patients are diagnosed with MAS, some of whom suffer repeated episodes[4].
About ACZ885
ACZ885 is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits IL-1 beta, which is an important part of the body’s immune system defenses. Excessive production of IL-1 beta plays a major role in certain inflammatory diseases, including SJIA[5]. ACZ885 works by neutralizing IL-1 beta for a sustained period of time, therefore inhibiting inflammation.
ACZ885 is currently approved in the US and other countries for a different disease state.
SOURCE: Novartis
Post Views: 28
